Japan stuns U.S., ends win streak

By JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 19, 2000

BLACKTOWN, Australia -- They managed to give invincibility a bad name.

The U.S. softball team, which looked for all the world like it was the greatest team ever assembled, was upset by Japan on Monday night.

The United States lost 2-1 in 11 innings, the longest game in the sport's brief Olympic history. The loss ended a 112-game winning streak for the United States dating to 1998.

It was Japan's first victory against the United States since 1970.

Although it may tweak their pride, the loss does not seriously jeopardize the Americans' gold-medal hopes. The top four teams from the preliminary rounds advance to the medal tournament.

"Everybody on this team has to go home tonight for a gut check," third baseman Lisa Fernandez said. "We're going to come back. I would be worried if I were the rest of the opponents."

Second baseman Dot Richardson, one of the heroes of the gold-medal winning team in 1996, committed two errors that led to runs in the 11th. Richardson made a throwing error that allowed the first run to score, then dropped a throw to second on a double steal when the second run scored.

"Nobody is pointing fingers, but I apologized to everyone," Richardson said. "I feel responsible."

A loss in the preliminary round is hardly earth-shattering, but it does raise eyebrows on a team that has been close to unbeatable.

The U.S. team won 57 straight games in a pre-Olympic exhibition tour, outscoring opponents 396-4. Granted, the competition was inferior, but this team has also had its way in international tournaments. The U.S. team is the four-time defending world champion, along with its '96 Olympic gold.

"This isn't about pride or ego or a winning streak. This is about learning from our mistakes," Richardson said. "This game was a great opportunity to put us in a situation we haven't been in for a long time. And I'm glad it came now instead of in the gold-medal game."

Richardson's errors led directly to the loss, but they were not the only factors. The United States left 20 runners on base, doubling the Olympic record set by the Americans in 1996, the first year the sport was in the Games.

Fernandez, who hit .348 in Atlanta in '96, is 0-for-13 through three games in 2000. She came up with runners in scoring position four times Monday and failed to hit the ball out of the infield.

"Things are not going my way, obviously," a tearful Fernandez said. "I'm a disappointment to this team. ... Four times I came up with the opportunity to finish off the game and I didn't come through.

"Things happen for a reason. I'm not exactly sure what the reason is right now, but I will come back and I will make a difference in this tournament before it's over. I just need my teammates to support me now."

The U.S. team won its first two games easily and was not expected to have much trouble against Japan. Coach Ralph Raymond held back his two best pitchers -- Fernandez and Michele Smith -- with the idea he would need them later.

Smith was eventually brought in Monday's game as a reliever in the sixth. The Treasure Island resident pitched 52/3 innings, giving up two hits while striking out eight, but was tagged with the loss with two unearned runs.

The United States also lost preliminary-round games in the '96 Olympics and the '98 World Championships -- both against Australia -- and came back to win gold.

"This is a bump in the road," Fernandez said. "But this team bounces back better than any team in the world.

"We will come back."

AUSTRALIA 7, ITALY 0: Tanya Harding and Brooke Wilkins combined on a no-hitter and Harding also homered for the host team.

It was the second no-hitter in two days of softball at the Blacktown Olympic Center, and the third no-hitter in the sport's Olympic history.

Lori Harrigan of the United States no-hit Canada on Sunday, the only solo no-hitter in the Olympics. Two Chinese pitchers combined on a no-hitter in 1996.

NEW ZEALAND 3, CANADA 2 (10): Cindy Potae hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the tiebreaking run and Gina Weber shut down Canada in the bottom of the 10th to lift New Zealand.

A night after giving up a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th to lose 3-2 to Australia, Weber struck out five and walked one, allowing four hits. But New Zealand also committed five errors.

- Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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